The role of union strategies in NLRB certification elections.

Analyzing 1986-87 data from 261 NLRB certification election campaigns, the author finds that union tactic variables explain more of the variance in election outcomes than any other group of variables, including employer tactics, bargaining unit demographics, organizer background, election background...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Industrial & Labor Relations Review Vol. 50; pp. 195 - 213
Main Author: Bronfenbrenner, Kate
Format: Article
Published: Cornell University January 1997
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:Analyzing 1986-87 data from 261 NLRB certification election campaigns, the author finds that union tactic variables explain more of the variance in election outcomes than any other group of variables, including employer tactics, bargaining unit demographics, organizer background, election background, employer characteristics, and election environment. The results suggest that unions can significantly improve the probability of winning an election by using a rank-and-file intensive organizing strategy. This strategy includes a reliance on person-to-person contact; an emphasis on union democracy and representative participation; the building of support for the first contract during the organizing drive; the use of escalating pressure tactics; and an emphasis on dignity, justice, and fairness rather than on bread-and-butter issues. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.